When should I replace my harness?

If you do not have an individual serial number. Without a serial number you are unable to trace the harness or verify if the harness has been inspected and therefore cannot be sure if it will be safe.

If you cannot find a manufacturing date. If you do not have a manufacturing date, there is no way to confirm if the harness is within its working life.

If you cannot find an inspection date recorded within the last 12 months. HSE guidelines recommend an inspection by a professional service every 6 months but PPE regulations require a minimum of 12 monthly inspections which should be recorded on the harness itself.

If the D ring, plastic back plate, fasteners, web tidies, adjusters or connectors do not look right (check the 'Hardware inspection' question for details).

If the webbing does not look right (check the 'Webbing inspection' question for details).